AftertheMac OS X Solutions

Bookmark this page as these procedures (and the ones we add)
will allow you to quickly resolve 90% of OS X problems.

For Help with OS 7,8,9 please click here

General Tips for OS X

All current versions of OS X.1.5 through Tiger OS X.4 (as of Oct 05) are configured to run repair and maintenance procedures at 2am to 4am (your local time) when the Mac has the idle CPU capability.
If you shut down your Mac every single day you must run these yourself.
It's Good to run these whenever
1. you have issues
2. you install any software including OS Upgrade.
You can use Onyx (free).,or Disk Utility (Utilities folder in Applications)
or run an automated program like Macaroni (Its free for 30 days),

See below for our step-by step how to with pictures.

The main needed repair procedures are Repairing Permissions, and Daily, Weekly and Monthly Unix Maintenance procedures, and removing temporary files.

Leaving your Mac on overnight occasionally can allow this to happen. I still regularly repair permissions with Disk Utility, Onyx or Macaroni manually before installing OS X updates via the web.

Pre-Install Tips for OS X.4 Tiger (also OS X.2 Jaguar and X.3 Panther).
This is a Step by step comilation based on 3 Macs in 3 days, and should be complete. If you follow these steps you should have no problems installing Mac OS X Tiger. Every step should be applicable to X.2 and X.3 - (some names are changed in other versions of OS X).

Hot Tip! - if upgrading from OS X.1 or X.2 or X.3 to the next number up (eg OS X.3 to OS X.4)
Use 'Clean install" and use the "Store old System" on the install CD.
Too many problems can occur if upgrading from say OS X. 2 to OS X.3.

When upgrading from OS X.3 to Tiger the amount of pesronal files transferred is complete for 99% of users if you check the correct boxes when installing.

After installing check the newly created auto-generated "Previous System" folder on your hard drive if you are missing items from WebServer Folder or elsewhere.

All files are saved, and when upgrading from Panther to Tiger all bookmarks, browser passwords, adresses, mail etc all flow with ease.

1. Close all open applications and run the 5 programs in Macaroni on the current boot hard drive if this is where the new system will go, or use Onyx (click Automation, see below picture).

Download Onyx Now.
Ensure Choosing the one for your OS X (X.2, X.3, X.4)
Go to the Apple Menu "About this Mac" to see your OS X version.

Now Go to the System Preferences under the Apple Menu and choose "Accounts" and Login Items to disable any Virus Software such as Virex. To do this click on the Virex and click the minus '-' sign underneath. Remember to click the '+' sign after upgrading to add it again, along with any other program you would like to start automatically wheneer your Mac reboots.

If you don't wish to use Macaroni, we suggest repairing permissions in the Disk Utility in the Applications --> Utilities Folder.
Simply choose the drive on the left and click "repair permissions".
Having the Mac run overnight the day before is not a bad idea to run Daily, Weekly and Monthly repair programs at 2-4 am. Macaroni works best as it runs right before installing.

Restart the Macintosh with the CD inside, and hold the letter C until it boots from the CD. follow the prompts to install OS X!

Download Links for Ugrading OS X.

If you are using Jaguar OS X.2
we recommend updating to OS X.2.8 - click here to download.
This works for OS X.2 and above. Not for G5 Systems. (For OS X.2 Server, you want the Server Download available at Apple.)

Get the latest free edition of Stuffit Expander here

Contact us if you have unanswered questions.

Cloning an OS X.2 and X.3 OS on to a New Hard Drive

If you would like to "Clone" your Current OS X System to another drive to boot from, or to have scheduled as regular backup storage for instant rebooting from a second drive in case the primary drive fails:

we strongly suggest Carbon Copy Cloner here

This "Clones" your current OS X system to a new drive. You can limit to only the Operating System itself, or any/all files.

Once you are done, restart and hold down "Option" key and choose the new drive.

This is highly recommended for Beige G3's and Powermacs running OS X who are not OS X ready in many cases. Later B and C versions of the Beige G3 may not need this, however earlier versions may not install OS X however if a drive with OS X is connected it will boot and run fine.

In this Diagram courtesy of Apple Computer, I show how you can Take a Picture of your Screen, no matter what program you are using, whether watching a Quicktime Movie, a Web Page, a Document, Picture or just to email friends what your desktop looks like.

Read Below and feel free to send me any cool pics you create with the tip!

Additional Tips: Hold Down the Daisy Command Key and Shift Key First, then press (type) the appropriate number. A prolonged holding of the number will not produce a picture. This tip applies anytime you use the Daisy Command Key.